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Gear on Album one
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Recommended gear for the MK style
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Rasgueado and other flamenco techniques in Sultans of Swing
Posted in: MK guitar style and licks by Ingo on February 02, 2010
Sultans of Swing from Dire Straits’ first album is surely one of THE songs that comes to mind when talking about fingerstyle guitar playing. In addition to Mark Knopfler’s unique playing style it also features some striking Spanish-sounding elements, starting from the chord progression itself to some flamenco-like strumming techniques – which is this blog article, or rather the embedded video, is about.
The typical flamenco stroke is called Rasgueado (the Spanish word for strumming) – a particular “roll” of your right hand fingers. I am really no master of the true flamenco style but I realized many years ago that Knopfler plays something like this in numerous songs, and practised something that sounds similar – my version of the Rasgueado. I can do it in two different ways: pinky first to index finger, or vice versa. Both sound different but I am not completetly sure which one Knopfler makes use of (possibly both).
The video explains how I play it. I think the idea becomes clear. So, enjoy!
PS: The rasgueado sounds great with distorted power chords, too. Give it a try!
"Buy me a beer" - Why not support this site and pay for the article if it was of great help for you (via Paypal, you decide the amount, note that I am charged about 0.40 cents for each transaction).
One word comes to mind: AWESOME! Thank you very much for that video, great insight on Knopflers technique, if possible please more of this
Again thank you very much!
Comment by Philipp — 3. February 2010 @ 18:27
When the time-bell rings!!!
Comment by Alun — 3. February 2010 @ 20:39
Hi Ingo! Sorry for the change of subject: would it be possible an explanation of Praire Wedding main riff? Please. Thank you.
Comment by luka — 9. February 2010 @ 09:31
Hey Ingo,
Absoutely love this song. My mum got me into Dire Straights, was one of the first records she played me.
This is a really good tutorial mate, i didn’t know it’d be so easy to play the song.
Cheers mate,
Anthony.
Comment by Anthony - Musical Gear Australia — 11. February 2010 @ 08:00